Unis hit Gillard cabinet changes

By Farrah Tomazin

September 13, 2010 — 3.00am

TOP universities have blasted Julia Gillard's cabinet reshuffle, saying her decision to place higher education under the skills portfolio - and not have ''education'' in any minister's title - devalued the importance of the sector.

Within a day of overhauling her frontbench, the Prime Minister drew a backlash from some of the nation's leading university chiefs, who described the changes as disappointing, mortifying and bewildering.

Peter Garrett has been put in charge of early childhood, schools and youth affairs, while Senator Chris Evans is the new minister for jobs, skills and workplace relations - a portfolio that now takes in universities and TAFE.

The change is the first time in decades there has not been a stand-alone education minister in a federal government. Under Labor and the previous Howard government, the education minister oversaw schools and universities. Now, the two areas are split and neither Mr Garrett nor Senator Evans have ''education'' in their titles.

Michael Gallagher, executive director of the Group of Eight research-intensive universities, which includes Monash and Melbourne, said his group was mortified by the changes.

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''The Prime Minister is wanting to give some signals about the importance of skills, but she forgets how that is received by education communities, who now think they are being devalued, demeaned or subordinated,'' he said.

Universities Australia chairman Peter Coaldrake said vice-chancellors were ''disappointed and mystified'' about the absence of a minister with an ''education'' title, given the level of progress the government made towards improving universities in its first term.

Senator Evans said universities were not being devalued, and that Ms Gillard had actually lifted education as a key priority for the government by putting two ministers in charge.

''The title reflects the fact that … there's a focus on jobs and skills. It's about connecting education with job opportunities and making sure we're training the right people for the jobs that are going to be available.''

Ms Gillard has made it clear, meanwhile, that while she has accommodated Kevin Rudd in the foreign affairs job he wanted, she and the cabinet will be in charge of foreign policy. ''Ultimately … I'm the leader'', she said. She and Mr Rudd ''obviously will be working together in the interests of the nation''.

Ms Gillard defended promoting those who had been part of the leadership move against Mr Rudd. She said Bill Shorten, one of the coup leaders, who becomes Assistant Treasurer, had done a ''remarkable'' job as parliamentary secretary for disabilities.

Opposition frontbencher Christopher Pyne said that giving Mr Rudd the job of implementing the East Timor processing centre for asylum seekers meant it would never happen. Mr Pyne said Ms Gillard had three ministers responsible for different areas within education so ''nobody is really in charge''.

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Opposition leader Tony Abbott is to announce his frontbench changes in the next few days.